Contact and Electrical Connector

Abstract

A contact that makes electrical contact with a flat plate-form mating contact includes a base having a fastening member for securing the base to an insulating housing of an electrical connector, a first spring that extends upward from the base, a linking member that extends downward from a tip end of the first spring, and a second spring that is more easily flexed than the first spring that extends upward from a lower end of the linking member. The second spring has a contact member at a tip end thereof. The first spring moves the contact member in a first direction when a contact force is applied to the contact member in a direction of the base, and the second spring moves the contact member in a second direction opposite from the first direction when a further contact force is applied to the contact member in a direction of the base.

1 . A contact that makes electrical contact with a flat plate-form mating contact, comprising,
 a base having a fastening member for securing the base to an insulating housing of an electrical connector;   a first spring that extends upward from the base;   a linking member that extends downward from a tip end of the first spring;   a second spring that is more easily flexed than the first spring that extends upward from a lower end of the linking member, the second spring having a contact member at a tip end thereof; and   the first spring moving the contact member in a first direction when a contact force is applied to the contact member in a direction of the base and the second spring moving the contact member in a second direction opposite from the first direction when a further contact force is applied to the contact member in a direction of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The contact of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to a direction of the contact force and the further contact force. 
     
     
         3 . The contact of  claim 1 , wherein the first spring, the linking member, and the second spring form a substantially S-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The contact of  claim 1 , wherein on a side opposite from the contact member the tip end of the contact spring has an abutment member that engages the tip end of the first spring to inhibit flexing of the second spring. 
     
     
         5 . The contact of  claim 1 , wherein an anti-overstress member extends from the base and engages a lower end of the second spring opposite the tip end of the second spring to inhibit flexing of the first spring. 
     
     
         6 . The contact of  claim 1 , wherein the contact is a substantially flat plate. 
     
     
         7 . An electrical connector that receives a semiconductor package, comprising,
 an insulating housing provided with a plurality of contacts, each of the contacts having a base with a fastening member for securing the base to the insulating housing, a first spring that extends upward from the base, a linking member that extends downward from a tip end of the first spring, and a second spring that that is more easily flexed than the first spring that extends upward from a lower end of the linking member, the second spring having a contact member at a tip end thereof; and   the first spring moving the contact member in a first direction when a contact force is applied to the contact member in a direction of the base and the second spring moving the contact member in a second direction opposite from the first direction when a further contact force is applied to the contact member in a direction of the base.   
     
     
         8 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to a direction of the contact force and the further contact force. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the first spring, the linking member, and the second spring form a substantially S-shape. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein on a side opposite from the contact member the tip end of the contact spring has an abutment member that engages the tip end of the first spring to inhibit flexing of the second spring. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein an anti-overstress member extends from the base and engages a lower end of the second spring opposite the tip end of the second spring to inhibit flexing of the first spring. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the contact is a substantially flat plate. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein a protective cover is arranged on the insulating housing, the protective cover having a plurality of slots that receive the contacts. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein the protective cover is moveable between an upper position and a lower position, the protective cover covering the contacts in the upper position and exposing the contacts in the lower position. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the contact force and the further contact force is applied to the contact member by a flat plate-form mating contact on the semiconductor package. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the contact member engages a surface of the flat plate-form mating contact during movement in the first direction and the second direction.